Apparatus for orientating channelled objects

ABSTRACT

The apparatus comprises a track which is provided with lateral rails leading to a distribution station where an element is located which is to receive a channelled object. The track is banked alternately in opposite directions so that the objects, as they travel along this track, have successively the occasion to engage themselves by their channel on one or the other of these rails.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Isaj Gutman Harrow, Middlesex, England [21] AppLNo. 820,066

[22] Filed Apr. 29, 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 12,1971

[731 Assignees En sh Numbering Machines Limited Enfield, Middlesex, England apart interest;

Flexico France Paris, France, a part interest 32 Priority Apr. 29, 1968 331 Great Britain 31 1 No. 20,200/68 s4 APPARATUS FOR ORIENTATING CHANNELLEI;

OBJECTS 11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl

51 int. Cl B65g 47/24 [50] Field of Search 209/73;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,725,971 12/1955 Clark-Riede 198/33(.l) 3,258,106 6/1966 Booth 198/33(R1) 3,414,111 12/1968 Ernest l98/33(Rl) Primary ExaminerAllen N. Knowles A!!orne \'Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson ABSTRACT: The apparatus comprises a track which is provided with lateral rails leading to a distribution station where an element is located which is to receive a channelled object. The track is banked alternately in opposite directions so that the objects, as they travel along this track, have successively the occasion to engage themselves by their channel on one or the other of these rails.

- PAIENTEB JAN 1 21971 .SHEET 1 or 3 INVENTOR HA7 GUT/MN ATTORNEY I "superimposed; I p I T Width f' t geously l t an the. Ifknclwn manner by' connecting the cohtain'erlfl to a base 14 by .the intermediary of springs I which are'l'or example three in I number-and which are disposed as shown inFlG. 3, and by providing an-electromagnet I6 whose fixed armature I7 is :solidlysecuredto thebase 14 whereas its movable armature l8 is solidly secured to the container 10. The ene'rgization of itheelectromagnetlfi determines a movement; in the direction l effect) and to obtain along the track.

APPARATUS FOR ORIENTATING CHANNELLED IOBIJECTS H ing of these objects on receiver elements themselves presented with a predetermined orientation. In particular, in the case of apparatus for orientating channelled sliders, this apparatus must give the sliders a determined orientation which permits them to be mounted automatically in sliding .clasp'fasteners.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus of this type which meets the requirements of practice and in particular in which the percentage of objects oriented with respect to the objects supplied in a heap is rather high.

According to this invention, apparatus for orientating channelled objects is principally characteriied in that it comprises a track along which the objects travel and which is provided with lateral rails leading to a distribution station where an element is located which is intended to receive a channelled object. this track being alternately banked in opposite directions such that the objects, during their travel along this track, have successively-the occasion to engage themselves by their channel on one or the other of these rails. I

Preferably, the track is provided, at the lower portions of the banks, with flanges which have offset portions, at thelevel of therails, these offset portionsbeginning a little before the beginning of the rail and favoring c orrec t 'engagement of the 7 objects on the rails; the ends of the rails are advantageously I beveled to facilitate the engagement of the end in the channel of the object. I t

, Preferably, in the case in which the apparatus is intendedto orientate objects of elongated shapehaving a longitudinal FIG. 5 shows, in section along the line V-V. the track of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 shows, in section along the line Vl-VI. the track of FIG.4;

. FIG. 7'shows, in section along the line VII-VII. the track of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 shows, in section along the line VIII-VIII. the track ofFIG. 4; and

FIG. 9 shows schematically}distribution station of the apnel 4. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, and'as is common with sliders for. sliding clasp fasteners, the slider I has a front end E, which is narrower than its read rear end 5;. The plate 2 constituting the upper part of the slider comprises an indicative opening 5 which is formed in this plate as well as possibly an auxiliary indicative opening 6. The slider has a single opening 7 at its end E and a double opening 8 at its end 5;. these openings 7, 8 having, as will be se'en'hereafter, the auxiliary role of aiding'in the determination of the orientation of the slider. The slider comprises, between the lateral walls 3. a separating member 9 which forms with the plate 2 and the walls 3 a passage having substantially the-form of a Y. This separating member 9 is shorter than the lateral walls 3 and delimits with these walls a part of the channel 4 of the slider. the other part of this channel 4 being constituted by the stem of the Y- shaped passage.

Referring to FIG. 3. the apparatus comprises a cylindrical I container 10 in which are put in a heap the sliders I to be orientated, this container comprising at itsperiphery at least one track 11 (which will be described in detail hereafter) disposed in a helix and leading, by its rails 12 and I3 (FIG. 4) to a distribution station (FIG. 9) outside of the container 10; a

this container is driven with an oscillating helical motion about its vertical axis .I-Iwith angular accelerations which are channel, this apparatus comprises, upstream ofthe banked portions of the track,-a'- deflection member which overhangs I the track andIwhich-is adapted to deflect from the track the objects which are standing on one of theirendsorwhich are s length of' these objects,"so that the -objectscannotoccupya 1positionperpendiq lar to'theflang'esofthe track.

l I g Accordingrtoiafpreferredembodiment, theapparatus corn .prises a cylindrical container in which the objects to be orien-- ,tated are put' in a "heap,..this container. 1 comprising at its.

. .periphery'at leastfon-.ti ack as described above-disposed in' a helix and leading, by'its riailspto a distribution station outside. I of the containerythis containeris driven with ah'elica'l oscIIIa t motion about nasty-6mm] axis angular accelerations a helical'motion. The energizatio tof Ihe electromag et is cffected periodically inorder to give the motion its oscillating which are greater inione, direction than inthe'other, so as; both to bring the, heapedobjects'towards 'the track- (by centrifugal IFrefera'bIy, the distribution station comprises means for bringing, one by one, the objects straddling the rails to the receiver elements on which they are to be mounted. The distribution station can comprise means for selecting the objects having a particular characteristic (length; type, colour) and means for reversing, if appropriate, the orientation of these objects.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example as applied to an apparatus for orientating channel section sliders of slidingclasp fasteners, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I shows in perspective a channelled slider which can be orientated in an apparatus accordingto the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an end view of the slider of FIG. 1 taken in the direction of the arrow II of FIG. 1; I FIG. 3 shows schematically part ofthe apparatus according to the invention; I

FIG. 4 shows in plan a track in accordance with the invention;

an upward'progression of these objects" greater in one direction than in the other so as both to bring the heaped sliders towards the track I1 (by a centrifugal effectland to obtain an upward progression of these sliders .-alongthetrack. I v a .SuchIa motion-of the container-.10 can be obtained in a of the axis I I, of the movable-armature 1'8 and hence of the container 10 which effects, under the action or the springs I5.

character.

tended to receive a channelled slider I. This track II is alternately banked at D and D in opposite directions, such that the sliders 1, during their travel along this track, have successively the occasion to engage themselves. by their channel 4. on one or the other of the rails 12 and 13. l

The banked portions, two in number in the example given. can be seen, on the one hand, in the sections of FIGS. 6 and 7 (bank D and on the other hand, in the section of FIG. 8 (bank D The track 11 is preferably provided, at the lower portions of the banks D, and D with flanges l9 and 20 which, at the level of the rails 12 and 13, are offset at 21 and 22, these offset pore tions 21 and 22 beginning a little before the beginning of the rails and favoring correct engagement of the sliders on the rails; the ends 23 and 24 of these rails are advantageously beveled to facilitate the engagement of these ends into the channel 4 of the sliders I.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises, upstream of the banks D, and D a deflection member 25 which overhangs the track 11 and which is adapted to deflect from this track the sliders l which are standing on one of their ends E or E or which are superimposed.

Thewidth 1 of the track 11 is advantageously smaller than the length L of these sliders so that the sliders cannot occupy a position perpendicular to the flanges 19, 20 of the track.

It can be seen in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 8 that the track 11 divides downstream of the line Vll-Vll into a track 110 and a track 11b; the track 11a continues along the periphery of the container 10 and is bordered by the rail 12, and the track 11b passes out of the container 10 through an opening 26 and is bordered by the rail 13.

After the sliders l have had the occasion to engage themselves on the rails 12 and 13 under the effect of the banks D, and D the tracks 11a and 11b come to an end, and the rail 12 passes, in its turn, out of the container 10 through an opening (not shown).

The apparatus comprises means for recuperating the sliders which have not engaged themselves on one of the rails 12 or 13. Since the track 11, 11a is disposed at the periphery of the container 10, this container 10 forms part of the recuperating means, for the sliders which fall at the interior of the container 10, either under the action of the deflection member 25, or when they are tipped over the rail 12 and over the flange 19, or again when they come to the end of the track 11a without having been able to straddle the rail 12.

The sliders 1 which follow the track 11b at the outside of the container 10 and which come to the end of the track 11b without having been able to straddle the rail 13 or which tip over the rail 13 and the flange 20, are collected by the recuperating means which comprise for this purpose a return track 27 which, by gravity, leads the sliders to the interior of the container 10.

. The helical oscillating motion communicated to the container 10 makes the sliders 1 come to the periphery of the container 10 and makes these sliders 1 progress along the track 11 in the direction of the arrow F (FIG. 4). As the track 11 has a first bank D,, the sliders l align themselves along the flange 19 in the course of their progression. A large portion of those sliders 1 whose channel 4 is directed towards the track 11 engage themselves on the beveled end 23 of the rail 12.which they straddle and on which they continue their progression. A

large portion of those sliders 1 whose channel 4 is directed towards the center of the container 10 tip onto the rail 12 the cycle described above.

ln the example apparatus described hereabove, only one track 11 provided with rails 12 and 13 has been provided at the interior of the container 10, but needless to say, two or more tracks, spaced apart from one another, can be provided at the interior of the container 10.

Thus, the distribution station 30 which is shown in FIG. 9 receives four rails 12, 13 and 28, 29 corresponding respectively to two tracks spaced apart by I80 on the periphery of the container 10.

This distribution station 30 comprises a storage device 31 provided with substantially vertical conduits 32 to which the rails 12, 13, 28 and 29 lead respectively. The ends 33 of these rails are situated at a small distance from the inlet 34 of the conduits 32, this distance being smaller than the length L of a slider 1. Thus, the rails 12, 13, 28 and 29 guide the sliders 1 towards the interior of the conduits 32 and can effect a motion relative to the conduits 32 which are assumed to be fixed,

which motion is due to the fact that these rails are solidly secured to the container l0 which is itself in motion.

According to another solution, means can be provided for communicating to the storage device 31 an oscillating motion permitting the conduits 32 to follow the motion of the rails 12. 13, 28 and 29 so that these rails are always aligned with the conduits. Y

The sliders 1 brought by the rails 12, 13, 28 and 29 are piled at the interior of the conduits 32'and straddle by' their channels 4 guide rails 35 which are analogous to the rails 12, 13, 28 and 29 and which form extensions theselatter rails; the sliders 1 thus preserve, due to the guide rails 35. a determined orientationat the interior ofthe conduits 32.

The storage device 31 comprises a first se'tof gates 36 which are actuated by a control device 37, each of these gates 36 being capable of stopping a slider 1 in a conduit 32 when this slider is at the level of the gate.

The storage device 31 also comprises a second set of gates 38 which are actuated by a control device 39. each of these gates 38 being capable of stopping a slider 1 in a conduit 32 when this slider is at the level of that gate 38; the gates 38 are placed at such a distance from the gates 36 that when one of the gates 38 stops a slider in a conduit 32, the gate 36 of this same conduit32 can stop the preceding slider of the pile of sliders placed in this conduit 32.

The distribution station 30 further comprises a turntable 40 which can turn about an axis 0 and which is provided with a single conduit 41. This turntable 40 is adapted to occupy successively in the course of acycle, under the action of a rod 42 which can slide in a guide 43 and which bears in opposition to the action of a spring (not shown) against a cam 44, four positions for which the conduit 41 successively forms an extension of each of the conduits 32, then a median position (position of the conduit 41 shown in broken lines) for which it closes the conduits 32.

Needless to say, for all positions of the turntable 40 except the median position, the downstream outlet of the conduit 41 is blocked by means which are not shown. At the end of the cycle, the turntable 40 assumes its median position. for which the outlet ofthe conduit 41 is not blocked, and the sliders 1 fall by gravity into a substantially vertical conduit 45 which connects the conduit 41 (in its median position) to a detecting device 46 which detects the length of the sliders.

In the conduit 45 are disposed gates 47 and 48 respectively controlled by devices 49 and 50 (for example of the electromagnetic type) and having, like the gates 36 and 38, the role of letting the sliders 1 pass one by one into the detecting device 46.

This detecting device 46 detects the length of each slider 1 passing downstream of the gate 48. When a slider does not have the correct length, this slider then falls by gravity into a recuperation container (not shown). Otherwise, the slider falls by gravity into a conduit 54 and is directed towards a device 55' adapted to determine the type of slider by detecting the openings 5 and 6 in the plate 2 of the slider. Thus. the presence or the absence of an opening 6 can serve for the determination of the type of the slider. When the type of a slider is appropriate, the device 55 lets the slider fall, under the action of gravity, into a conduit 57; otherwise. the slider is ejected.

The distribution station 30 finally comprises a device 58 which determines if the slider coming out of the conduit 57 of the device 55 presents itself with its end E,having a single opening 7first, or with its end E having a double opening 8--first, by the detection of these openings 7 or 8. The device ,58 controls a turntable 60 which carries a conduit 61 into which permits their automatic mounting in a sliding clasp fastener (not shown) which is itself presented with a determined orientation. An apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention has numerous advantages. Amongthese advantages, it can be mentioned thatthe apparatus supplies a'fairly high percentage of oriented objects with respect to the objects which are fed put in a heap, at least partof said track being disposed. in a 5. Apparatus according to claim 4. wherein the width of the track is smaller than the length of the objects so that these objects cannot occupy a position perpendicular to thev flanges of said track.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1. further comprising a cylindrical container in which theobjects to be orientated are helix, inside said container, at its periphery. and said distribution station, to which said rails lead, being disposed outside'of said container, and in which apparatus said means for making said objects travel along said track comprise means for driving said container with a helical oscillating motion about its vertical axis with angular accelerations which are greater in one direction than in the other, so as both to bring the heaped obinto the apparatus in a heap. This is principally due to the jects towards the track and to obtain an upward progression of track or tracks with which this apparatus is equipped. Furthermore, those objects which cannot engage themselves on one of the rails when they travel along the track for the first time, are recycled by the recuperation means and thus have another chance to engage themselves on one of the rails.

The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment which has been described by way of example, for many modifications and changes are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for orientating objects provided with a channel, comprising a track, means for making said objects travel along said track, first and second rails, disposed one on each side of the track, and a distribution station to which said rails lead, said track being successively banked towards the first and second rails so as to engage thereon, by their channels, at

least some of said objects.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said track is provided, at the lower portions of the banks, with flanges which have, at the level of the rails, offset portions, each offset portion beginning a little before the beginning of the corresponding rail and favoring correct engagement of the objects on the corresponding rail.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the beginning end of each rail is beveled to facilitate the, engagement of that end into the channels of the objects.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, for orientating objects of elongated shape having a longitudinal channel, further comprising, upstream of the banked portions of the track, a deflection member which overhangs said track, for deflecting from said track the objects which are standing on one of their ends and the objects which are superimposed.

said objects along the track.

' 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising recuperation means for putting back into the cylindrical container the objects which have not engaged themselves on one of the from said conduits.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said selection means comprise means for detecting the length of each object. interposed in the outlet conduit for permitting the passage of each object in this outlet conduit when that object has an appropriate length, and for removing the object from said outlet conduit when that object does not have an appropriate length.

10. Apparatus accordingto claim 8, for orientating objects comprising an indication of their type, wherein said selection means comprise a device for detecting said indication which device is interposed in the outlet conduit for permitting the passage of each object in thisconduit when that object comprises an appropriate indication, and for removing the object from said outlet conduit when that object does not have an appropriate indication.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said distribution station comprises a device for checking and controlling 

1. Apparatus for orientating objects provided with a channel, comprising a track, means for making said objects travel along said track, first and second rails, disposed one on each side of the track, and a distribution station to which said rails lead, said track being successively banked towards the first and second rails so as to engage thereon, by their channels, at least some of said objects.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said track is provided, at the lower portions of the banks, with flanges which have, at the level of the rails, offset portions, each offset portion beginning a little before the beginning of the corresponding rail and favoring correct engagement of the objects on the corresponding rail.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the beginning end of each rail is beveled to facilitate the engagement of thAt end into the channels of the objects.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, for orientating objects of elongated shape having a longitudinal channel, further comprising, upstream of the banked portions of the track, a deflection member which overhangs said track, for deflecting from said track the objects which are standing on one of their ends and the objects which are superimposed.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the width of the track is smaller than the length of the objects so that these objects cannot occupy a position perpendicular to the flanges of said track.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cylindrical container in which the objects to be orientated are put in a heap, at least part of said track being disposed, in a helix, inside said container, at its periphery, and said distribution station, to which said rails lead, being disposed outside of said container, and in which apparatus said means for making said objects travel along said track comprise means for driving said container with a helical oscillating motion about its vertical axis with angular accelerations which are greater in one direction than in the other, so as both to bring the heaped objects towards the track and to obtain an upward progression of said objects along the track.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising recuperation means for putting back into the cylindrical container the objects which have not engaged themselves on one of the rails.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distribution station comprises a storage device provided with substantially vertical conduits to which the rails lead respectively, and in which conduits the objects brought by said rails are piled with a determined orientation, and selection means for delivering, one by one, via a single outlet conduit, the objects coming from said conduits.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said selection means comprise means for detecting the length of each object, interposed in the outlet conduit for permitting the passage of each object in this outlet conduit when that object has an appropriate length, and for removing the object from said outlet conduit when that object does not have an appropriate length.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 8, for orientating objects comprising an indication of their type, wherein said selection means comprise a device for detecting said indication which device is interposed in the outlet conduit for permitting the passage of each object in this conduit when that object comprises an appropriate indication, and for removing the object from said outlet conduit when that object does not have an appropriate indication.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said distribution station comprises a device for checking and controlling the orientation of each object in the outlet conduit, this device being adapted to reverse the orientation of each object in the conduit, if appropriate. 